| Notes |
- Mount Vernon News
March 21, 2007
Mary P. Lord
Mary P. Lord, born November 21, 1914, died peacefully among family on March 20, 2007. Mary was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was the first child of George Bassett Pitts, a patent lawyer, and Mary Cornelia Woodward Pitts, a school teacher. She was 92 years old.
Mary grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio where she attended Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. Her Cleveland childhood firmly formed her lifelong devotion to music, church and reading, particularly history, nonfiction and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mary was a serious piano student such that she played on the Cleveland radio at the age of 12. From an early age on, she made classical and sacral music a constant part of her life.
Mary studied chemistry at the College of Wooster for three years, and then transferred to Flora Stone Mather College, where she earned a bachelor's in Dietary Science (now Case Western Reserve University).
In 1936, she married Raymond Sterling Lord MD. They moved to Knox County in 1938; Ray wanted to have a small town family practice in the place where he grew up.
They had three boys. Then in 1942, Ray joined the war effort and was sent to Persia (Iran). Mary moved with her children back to Cleveland Heights to be with her parents. In 1945, Ray returned, and they had two more children.
Mary was an active leader in the Fredericktown and Mount Vernon community. She was a member of The Thursday Club, Readers Review Club, Beethoven Club, College Women's Club, Knox County Medical Auxiliary and the Knox County Historical Society. She began the first Girl Scout Club in Fredericktown. She accompanied the Community Choir, and was a member, organist and choir director for the Fredricktown United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Tru-Lo-So Sunday School class and President for many years of the Women's Society for Christian Service.
Mary cared for anyone she knew in need, taking families into her house frequently who needed food, a home, or medical care. Mary and Ray helped sponsor two refugee families to come to Knox County. Mary enjoyed planning and cooking for the church with other church members. Mary loved to entertain and often hosted friends in her home. She loved to try new recipes and her recipe box is a prize possession. Most of all she loved her family.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond S. Lord MD and two sons, William H. Lord, Springfield, Ohio; George E. Lord, Delaware, Ohio and three grandchildren, Karen S. Lord, and Jonathan A. Lord, and Stephanie A. Lord and two brothers, George B. Pitts, Jr., and Morris W. Pitts.
She is survived by her sons Dr. Raymond S. (Arija) Lord of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Thomas A. (Nita) Lord of Lebanon, Ohio and one daughter, Fran (Robert) Rodstrom of Mount Vernon, Ohio, two daughters-in-law Donna A. Lord, Springfield, Ohio, and Donna Lord, Delaware, Ohio. Ten grandchildren Dr. Ellen (Steve) Tamburello, Westerville, Ohio; Diane (Brian) Grant, Kennebunk, Maryland; Amy Lord, and Dr. William (Michelle) Lord, Springfield, Ohio; Michael (Heather) Lord, Covington, Kentucky; David (Maura) Lord, Longmont, Colorado; Sarah Lord, Waynesville, Ohio; Andrew Rodstrom, Pullman, Washington; Mary-Alice Rodstrom, Columbus, Ohio; and John Rodstrom, Mount Vernon, Ohio; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be Saturday, March 24, 2007, at 10 a.m. Forest Cemetery, West Sandusky Street in Fredericktown, Ohio. A memorial service will be held on the same day at 11 a.m. at the Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 North Gay Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Early Learners Scholarship Endowment Fund at the Community Trust of Mount Vernon and Knox County, One South Main, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.
To view this obituary or send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1914 - 2007 (92 years)